Happy Giraffe/Father’s Day

As many of you know, this Sunday is Father’s Day, but it’s also World Giraffe Day! The Houston Zoo would like to invite you, and your fathers, to come celebrate World Giraffe Day with our giraffe dad, Mtembei. Mtembei is a Masai giraffe and a proud father to our three youngest giraffes; three year old Ghubari, one year old Baridi, and ten month old Kamili. Mtmebei is our eight year old breeding bull for the herd of nine Masai giraffes. You may recognize Mtmebei from your last visit to the Houston Zoo due to his dark coloration. His coloration makes him easy to recognize from the herd and he is a regular at our public giraffe feedings that occur at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily.

This year is the second annual celebration of World Giraffe Day. World Giraffe Day began to bring awareness to the declining population and the lack of research on giraffes in the wild. Giraffe populations in the wild have declined 40% within the last 15 years and have already gone extinct in seven countries.

This year’s World Giraffe Day will include children’s crafts, giraffe bio facts, a giraffe-themed photo booth, opportunities to meet the giraffe keepers, giraffe paintings, and more! All donations will go to support the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. Festivities start at 10 am and end at 3 p.m. We hope to see you there!